1. Office of Student and Professional Development (OSPD)
Transition to Clinical Medicine Student Presentation
October 2016
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

2. Overview Residency Application Supporting Documents
Letters of Recommendation
Step 2 scheduling strategy and resources
Target USMLE Step Scores
Number of positions per specialty
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

3. Residency Application
Supporting Documents
Letters of Recommendation (LoRs) – provided by student/letter writer
USMLE Transcript – provided by student
Personal Statement – provided by student
Curriculum Vitae (CV) – provided by student
Photograph – provided by student
Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter (PTAL)/Receipt – provided by student (CA)
Medical School Transcript – provided by OSPD
MSPE Letter – provided by OSPD
ERAS Residency Application and Supporting Document Submission At-a-Glance
LoRS
The LoR is an important component to the residency application process. It allows attendings to share their thoughts on your performance with other programs. We’ll talk more about how to ask for an LoR shortly.
USMLE Transcript
Ensure your USMLE scores are competitive for your desired specialty. We’ll go over a chart later in the presentation in order to see target scores for each specialty. Aim to have the Step 2 CK and CS score reports available for programs by mid-September of the year prior to entering the Match. We’ll talk about deadlines and Step 2 preparation later in the presentation.
Personal Statement and CV
Student should begin working on their personal statement in January of the year prior to entering the match. OSPD will hold a webinar on the topic, which will be posted on the OSPD website. Ensure your personal statement is interesting, easy-to-read and void of grammar and spelling errors.
PTAL
To apply to a residency program in California, IMGs must first apply for a PTAL from California’s medical board—a process that can take approximately 6 months. The PTAL itself can only be obtained post­ graduation because the medical board requires a certified copy of your medical degree. We’ll talk more about this process later in the presentation.
Medical School Transcript and MSPE Letter
OSPD will hold webinars on these topics in Spring prior to year students will participate in the Match. OSPD will upload these documents to ERAS for students.
Familiarize yourself with the Document Submission At-a-Glance link for information on processing times as well as where to where to upload supporting documents.
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

4. Letters of Recommendation (LoRS)
All letters must be uploaded by the author or the author’s designee using the Letter of Recommendation Portal (LoRP)
Students will enter and finalize LoR Authors and print out a Letter Request Form along with instructions for the Author to upload the letter
Students will submit these Request Forms and instructions to each Author by , mail, or in person
Authors complete their LoR, save it in PDF format and access the LoRP to upload their letter. 
Asking for a Letter of Recommendation (LoR) by ECFMG’s ECHO Resources
The AAMC recently changed the process for transmission of Letters of Recommendation. 
Medical schools will no longer be able to upload letters on the student’s behalf.
Students will need at least one LoR in their desired specialty and uploaded to their ERAS account by Sept. 1 of the year prior to entering the match. For this group, that’s Sept. 1, 2018.
This action will ensure programs can view the LoR when students begin applying to programs in mid-September.
There is no limit to how many LoRs you can submit, however, you can assign a maximum of 4 LoRs to each program.
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

5. Timeline: Jan Class - NRMP®
CS deadline – mid-July
Residency Begins
CK deadline – mid-Aug
NRMP Opens
Rank Order Deadline
MSPE Released
Match Week
~ 53 weeks to complete cores
Interview Season
Jan 17
Sept 17
Jan 18
July 19
May 17
June 18
July 18
Aug 18
Sept 18
Oct 18
Jan 19
Feb 19
Mar 19
Complete electives in desired specialty by mid-August
Build in break after cores to study for COMP, CS and CK
8 weeks required for full-time status and fin aid
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

6. Timeline: May Class - NRMP®
CS deadline – mid-July
CK deadline – mid-Aug
NRMP Registration
Rank Order Deadline
Residency Begins
MSPE Released
Match Week
~ 53 weeks to complete cores
Interview Season
May 17
Jan 18
May 18
July 19
Sept 17
June 18
July 18
Aug 18
Sept 18
Oct 18
Jan 19
Feb 19
Mar 19
Build in break after cores to study for COMP, CS and CK
8 weeks required for full-time status and fin aid
Complete elective(s) in desired specialty by mid-August
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

7. Timeline: Sept Class - NRMP®
NRMP Registration
MSPE released
Rank Order Deadline
Match Week
Match Week
CS deadline – mid-July
CK deadline – mid-August
~ 53 weeks to complete cores
Interview Season
Sept 17
Jan 18
May 18
June 18
July 18
Aug 18
Sept 18
Oct 18
Jan 19
Feb 19
Mar 19
July 19
If possible, build in break after cores to study for COMP and CK
8 weeks required for full-time status and fin aid
Complete elective(s) in desired specialty by mid-August
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

8. USMLE Step 2 CK Scheduling
and Resources
AUC’s recommended deadline to take CK and have score reported prior to when NRMP Registration opens is the second Friday in August prior to the year entering the Match
If possible, schedule a break after completing cores to study (8 weeks required per semester to be eligible for financial aid)
Students will need to pass the Clinical Comprehensive (COMP) Exam prior to sitting for CK. Become familiar with AUC’s USMLE Step 2 CK Policy (page 44)
Recommended resources and frequently asked questions for CK
Each year USMLE posts an announcement regarding CK reporting dates. Last year it was posted in May.
The announcement normally sets a target date of late August to take CK in order to have the score back prior to when NRMP Registration opens in mid-September.
AUC recommends to take the exam by the second Friday in August, at latest, for students participating in NRMP.
Remember that students only need to complete 8 weeks of rotations to remain eligible for full-time status and financial aid; therefore, work with your clinical advisor to set up time to study for exams.
Each student should research the AUC Step 2 CK policy in the student handbook. Take time to understand the policy and how it will affect you.
Be sure to check out the recommended resources and FAQ links for more information.
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

9. USMLE Step 2 CS Scheduling
and Resources
ECFMG recommends to schedule CS in February of year prior to entering the Match
AUC’s recommended deadline to take CS and have score reported prior to when NRMP Registration opens is typically mid-July
If possible, schedule a break after completing cores to study (8 weeks required per semester to be eligible for financial aid)
Take AUC’s Clinical Skills Assessment (CSA) to help prepare for CS – it’s free
Recommended resources and frequently asked questions for CS
Each year ECFMG posts an announcement regarding when to apply to take CS – last year it was February.
Check the USMLE Step 2 CS reporting schedule to determine when is the last day you can take CS and have it reported prior to when NRMP Registration opens in mid-September.
Remember that students only need to complete 8 weeks of rotations to remain eligible for full-time status and financial aid; therefore, work with your clinical advisor to set up time to study for exams.
Each student should take the CSA to help prepare for CS in order to pass on the first attempt.
Students who fail the the exam in August or later may have difficulty finding another test date due to limited test sites.
Be sure to check out the recommended resources and FAQ links for more information.
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

10. USMLE Step 1 Performance for 2014, 2015 and 2016 Classes
Specialty
# Residency Placements
% Matched into Specialty
NRMP Mean*
AUC Mean
Anesthesiology 35 4%
232
240
Emergency Medicine 15 2%
235
236
Family Medicine
233
30%
215
General Surgery 23 3%
227
243
Internal Medicine
230
229
Neurology 14
223
OB/GYN 16
224
225
Pathology 9 1%
219
Pediatrics 60 8%
PM&R
222
Psychiatry 51 6%
205
213
Radiology
234
239
Students should ensure their step scores are in line with these charts.
*Source: 2014 NRMP Program Director Survey’s section on “Scores Above Which Programs Almost Always Grant Interviews.” © 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

11. USMLE Step 2 CK Performance for 2014, 2015 and 2016 Classes
Specialty
# Residency Placements
% Matched into Specialty
NRMP Mean*
AUC Mean
Anesthesiology 35 4%
234
244
Emergency Medicine 15 2%
240
243
Family Medicine
233
30%
215
225
General Surgery 23 3%
229
Internal Medicine
236
232
235
Neurology 14
227
OB/GYN 16
224
237
Pathology 9 1%
226
Pediatrics 60 8%
228
230
PM&R
Psychiatry 51 6%
205
Radiology
*Source: 2014 NRMP Program Director Survey’s section on “Scores Above Which Programs Almost Always Grant Interviews.” © 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

12. © 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

13. Positions offered in the 2016 Match
Source: Results and Data: 2016 Main Residency Match
Specialty
# positions offered
% of all positions offered
Anesthesiology
1127
4.0%
Emergency Medicine
1895
6.8%
Family Medicine
3238
11.6%
Internal Medicine (Categorical)
7024
25.2%
Neurology
443
1.6%
OB/GYN
1265
4.5%
Pathology
579
2.1%
Pediatrics
2689
9.7%
PM&R
112
0.4%
Psychiatry
1384
5.0%
Radiology-Diagnostic
151
0.5%
Surgery (Categorical)
1241
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

14. Scheduling Electives
It is important to complete an elective rotation in a specialty of choice, if at all possible, prior to, or as close to, Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS) residency application time, so that you can have a letter of recommendation in your specialty of choice prior to residency interviews
Consider completing this elective rotation at a hospital where you intend to apply to their residency program. This can effectively serve as a form of an ‘audition’ with that program.
Students should generally avoid completing more than 8-10 weeks of elective rotations in the specialty of preference. It is preferable to demonstrate a broad knowledge base and clinical experience in related systems. For example, applicants for General Surgery may opt to take Cardiology, Radiology and Gastroenterology as they help broaden the general understanding of surgery.
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

15. Scheduling Electives
The Office of Student and Clinical Affairs has completed a list of suggested electives by specialty titled the ‘Elective Clerkships Guide’.
Additional sources can be found by doing your personal research. This can include speaking with physicians who have matched into your area of interest and searching medical articles and forums online.
AUC students may complete only 2 electives for a total of eight (8) weeks of elective clerkships per unaffiliated site.
Unapproved States: Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Texas rules: AUC students remain able to complete select elective rotations in Texas if they are a “visiting student” at a Texas medical school
The Elective Guide can be found by typing ‘Elective Guide’ key words in the AUC search menu
The process to research and obtain electives at unaffiliated sites can be found in the Elective Guide. The Elective Guide can be found by typing ‘Elective Guide’ key words in the AUC search menu.
Per statute, AUC students are ineligible to complete elective or core clerkships in the states of Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Students, however, are able to engage in residencies and fellowships; and may obtain licensure in these states
The Texas Legislature enacted a law prohibiting the state approval body from enabling all international medical schools, among others, from independently engaging and entering into an affiliation agreement with a Texas teaching hospital. AUC students remain able to complete select elective rotations in Texas if they are a “visiting student” at a Texas medical school. This requires applying and gaining acceptance to an individual Texas-based medical school as a visiting student. (Students may not engage in elective clerkships at individual hospitals or sites, and any and all applications must originate through the education affairs offices of a Texas medical school. Otherwise, AUC students may not complete any clerkships in the state of Texas.
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

16. Scheduling Electives
Elective Scheduling and Policy Questions: Office of Clinical Student Affairs (OCSA Team), , option 4, or send an
Residency Elective Questions: Office of Student and Professional Development (OSPD Team), , option 6, or send an
AUC Student Services
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

17. Resources ECFMG (introduction to application process)
NRMP (how the match works, rank order lists and residency data)
OSPD Web Page (AUC and non-AUC resources, MSPE Letter, Personal Statement and CV samples)
ECHO (residency application support from ECFMG)
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.

18. Contact ospd@aucmed.edu 305-446-0600, option 6
© 2016 American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. All rights reserved.